Thrilling overtime win over China

BASKETBALL: The
Australian men's team have started their series with China on a winning
note, with the debutants inspiring a rousing 97-95 come-from-behind overtime
victory at Challenge Stadium in Perth.

Making their debuts, Lucas Walker (17 points and seven rebounds) and Brock Motum
(15 points) came up huge for the home team, combining for 22 points in the
final quarter and overtime.

Down 12
points heading into the final quarter, Australia could not break down the
stubborn China team, still trailing by 10 points inside the final three
minutes.

It was the
inspiration play of Walker (11 final quarter points) and Motum (final four
Boomers points of regulation) that broke the visitor’s resistance, with the two
rookies making it a debut to remember.

Sydney Kings
star Ben Madgen came up big in overtime, scoring six points on his way to 15
points for the game, while WA centre Luke Nevill was brilliant early, scoring
16 points and grabbing six rebounds in 17 minutes.

Australian Head Coach Andrej Lemanis said his team’s effort and commitment on the
defensive end was the driving force in the come-from-behind victory.

“We started
to get more aggressive and attack the rim in the second half, but it was our
full court defence that disrupted their rhythm,” Lemanis said.

“It’s a
credit to the team because they kept believing (they could win), they kept
playing hard, they kept doing the defensive things, kept trying to be
disruptive and at no stage did they throw the towel in, and that attitude will
always give you a chance.”

It was the
fast starting Chinese team that looked in control early, with drawing early
fouls and hitting their open looks to establish a 14-7 lead
midway through the opening quarter.

The
introduction of Nevill saw the Australians begin to find their offensive rhythm,
with the 218cm centre posting seven points in the quarter to have the hosts in
touching distance in the dying minutes before late baskets had the visitors
leading 25-14.

The second
quarter started with both teams trading early baskets as Worthington began to
assert himself on the contest, keeping the locals within striking distance as
the sharp-shooting Chinese looked to push clear.

A Ben Madgen
three-point play reduced the Chinese lead below double digits for the first
time in nearly a quarter, before a late surge saw the margin again push beyond
10 points, with China leading 47-32 on the back of a 7-0 run to close out the
half.

The second
half saw the Australian men race out of the blocks to cut the China lead to just nine points
three minutes into the quarter, before the visitors again found their shooting
range to push the lead to 59-45 late on.

A Brock
Motum-inspired late rally had saw Australia close out the quarter on a 8-5
rally to trail 64-53 heading into the final period.

Trailing
68-55 with eight minutes, Australia found their defensive intensity, holding
China scoreless for more than three minutes, reducing the margin to seven
points with five minutes remaining in the game.

Looking to
capitalise on their ascendency, Australia were reduced by two players with
Hugh Greenwood and Worthington fouling out, with both teams spending the final
minutes at the free throw line.

Walker did
his bit to lift the team, following a three-point play with an acrobatic
lay-up, key steal and another under the ring basket, cutting the China lead to
just two points with 37 seconds remaining.

In an
amazing close to the regulation, Motum stepped up to be the hero, scoring the final four points before delivering the game-saving block to see the
teams finish level at 81-81.

Madgen and
Rhys Martin carried the momentum into overtime, leading Australia to a 6-2
run to start the extra period.

Not to be
counted out, China showed resolve in overtime, levelling the scores at 89-89 inside
the final two minutes on the back of a 6-0 run.

Madgen
stepped up from the free throw line and Motum again found this way to the
basket to give Austtralia a 93-91 buffer with 17 seconds remaining.

Cameron
Gliddon and Martin stepped up to ice the game for Australia from the free
throw line, ensuring a winning start to the Sino-Australia Challenge, taking
Game One 97-95. The second and final game in Australia takes place at Challenge Stadium on Saturday night.

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